Making my first backcountry trip to Campsite #23 on Fish Camp Prong and Goshen Prong the second weekend of September. I'm pretty set from the camping side as I've done it before and I'll be going with experienced campers/hikers. My questions are mostly fishing related:

Welcome to the board tigerts9! I have been by it a few times but never stayed at camp rock 23 although I really want to. I am very interested in your question 1 and 2 as well so will be watching for answers. I will tell you that the wet wading is a matter of personal preference but I don't think it will be so bad 3 weeks from now even with the cooler temps personally. I usually always wet wade on backpacking trips even up into November just because my waders are very heavy to take in that far. As far as flies I can just tell you what I would take and for dries that would be some yellow stimulators size 14 - 16 and yellow neversink caddis 14-16. I would add a dropper off of them of a BHPT 16 - 18 or a rainbow/psycho prince nymph 16 - 18. Those combos seem to work good for me in most smokies streams. Of course I would have some terrestrials like greenie weenie in my box in case I want to give those a try but the 4 I listed are my go to selection. If the dry fly action is reasonably good then I will clip off the dropper and just go with that. In lower water I will use 6x tippet and the rest of the time 5x but your mileage may vary.

Crockett, thanks for the info. Those flies are what I had been planning on bringing, but it never hurts to ask before you're in the backcountry...

I'll post a report once we're back. This trip will be about the 4th time i've fished in the Park. I do a little bit better every time. The quick hook-set does take some getting used to, especially since when the hook doesn't set the fly ends up in the trees.

Tigerts9....What a lucky man you are...if I could only fish one place in the park that would be the area....the old site of CS23 used to be right below what was referred to as Camp Rock...way back when the locals would set up camp under the overhang there...soft river sand for a bed and safe from any rain that would come up....the campsite now is above the "island" at the forks of the river....the Goshen Prong trail leaves the stream about here and once you get in there you will have the place to yourself...the best take out point is at the waterfall....Fish Camp Prong goes up the right hand fork and there is some great fishing up there....no trail coming out but there used to be an old railroad bed coming down stream on your right....hiking in to the campsite you will hit an area where the trail narrows and climbs a high bluff above the river...if you hike back to the spot where the trail starts to climb and put in this is a great stretch of flatter water that generally holds some good dry fly water....and unless things have changed drastically there is a great pool just before the island with a deep run next to the trail...one of my grandfather's favorite pools...I am a dry fly fanatic and have fished this area with only dries....EHC are my go to fly...a royal wulff or trude will also work...parachute adams is another go to and a standard....let us know how you do.